Internal-combustion engine



June'lz. 1923. 1,673,181

E. R. BURTNETT INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed April 30, 1925 Arms/v ra/e/ fife/5 7*?" 490/6 771 577.

Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVERETT R. BURTNETT, DE LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA; ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AUTOMOTIVE VALVES (10., LOS ANGELES, CALI- FORNIA, A VOLUNTARY TRUST.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed April 30, 1925. Serial No. 26,862.

My invention relates generally to internal combustion engines and more particular- 1y to a device that is adapted to be assomated with the intake r nanifold for controlling the admission of a dilutent volume to the gas mixture, that enters the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine and to cause the said dilutent, such as residual products of combustion, to mix thoroughly with the fuel mixture after the fuel is metered to the air stream at the carburetor.

The objects of a dilutent of residual prod-' ucts of combustion to the fresh charge that is being admitted to the engine cylinders, arises from the fact that, it is a generally accepted theory that where residual products of combustion are thoroughly mixed with the fuel charge, the temperature of combustion lowered and detonation is materially diminished.

For an internal combustion engine operating with variable load and variable throttle, wherein a very small quantity of fresh fuel mixture is admitted to the cylinders at times, any device which provides a dilutent to the fuel mixture constantly, will prevent regularity of firing and efficient combustion at light load and throttle operation, therefore it is one of the principal objects of my invention, to provide a device which will not supply any dilutent to the fuel charge, until a given amount of the fuel charge volume is being admittedto the engine cylinders. This dilutent admission feature 1s adjustable, and is accomplished by a control mecha-nism to the valve or throttle that controls the fuel mixture andengages with the valve of the dilutent supply, after the said fuel valve has been opened to the point where it is desired to' have the supply of dilutent begin. Thereafter any movement of the fuel mixture throttle in further opening, will also cause the dilutent to be admitted to the fuel charge, in proper ratio to the fuel charge inducted to the engine cylinders after a certain quantity of said fuel charge is being inducted.

My improved device is preferably installed between the carburetor'or source of fuel mixture supply and the inlet valves, or, in other words, it is placed in the main duct of the inlet manifold.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement 56 of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

The figure is a vertical section taken through the center of an internal combustion engine cylinder and showing my improved dilutent admission means associated with'the inlet manifold to said cylinder.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 10 designates the combustion 5 chamber of an internal combustion engine, 11 the charge volume inlet port that leads into the head of said combustion chamber,

12 the ordinary'spring held cam actuated poppet valve that controls the inlet gaseous fuel thru said inlet port, 13a carburetor or' like device and 14 the intake manifold or duct leads from said carburetor to inlet port 11.

Arranged for operation within duct 14, is an ordinary throttle valve 15 that is connected by a crank arm 16' and link 17, to a normally operable throttle actuating rod 18, the latter being arranged for operation in a suitable support 19. v.

Located in and forming a part of duct 14 is a short tubular section 20 having, intermediate its ends, a short horizontally disposed tubular extension 21, and rising from the latter is a vertically disposed tubular housing 22 for a needle valve 23.

The tapered lowerportion of this. needle valve is adapted to rest on a corresponding- 1y tapered valve seat 24 that is formed in the lowerportion of member 22, and leading from said member 22 in a plane just above valve seat 24, is a tubular member 25 that serves as an inlet duct for a charge volume part, such as products of combustion or residual gases that are taken from the exhaust manifold of the engine or other suitable source.

Screw seated in tubular member 21 is an auxiliary disposed tubular member 26, the inner portion of which projects diametricaL 1y across a Venturi throat or passageway 27 that is formed in a sleeve or collar 28 and the latter being removably arranged in tubular member 20. i

That portion of member 26 projects into the Venturi passageway 25 is provided in its upper portion with a plurality of small apertures 29 that are designed to permit the residual gases or the like to discharge directly into the stream of gaseous fuel that is flowing at high velocity through duct 14 and venturi 25.

Projecting upward from valve 23, through a cap 30 on top of valve housing 22 is a stem 31, and arranged thereon and interposed between the valve ,body and said cap is an expansive coil spring 32.

Adjustably mounted on that portion of stem 31 that projects above cap 30 is a collar 33, and positioned beneath said collar is the outer end of an arm 34, that is adjustably mounted on throttle actuating rod 18.

It will be understood that, as the piston in combustion chamber moves downward on its suction stoke and poppet valve 12 is unseated, gaseous fuel will be drawn from carburetor 13 through duct or intake manifold 14 and that this induction of fuel is under control of manually operable valve 15..

After rod 18 has been actuated to open throttle 15 to a certain degree, any further opening movement arm 34 to engage collar 33 and lift the tapered portion of needle valve 23 from its seat 24.

The suction produced by the rapidly moving column of gaseousfuel passing through venturi 27 will act to draw a dilutent volume of products of combustion through duct 25,

past needle valve 23, through the lower por-, member 22. thence through tubular.

tion of I member 26 and said dilutent volume will discharge through apertures 29 and mix thoroughly with the column of gaseous fuel as it passes into the combustion chamber of the engine.

Repeated tests and continued use have proven conclusively. that the presence of a certain percentage of residual gases or products of combustion in a charge volume inducted into the combustion chamber of, an internal combustion en ine, is highly effective in maintaining the desired relatively low temperatures during combustion of the fuel charges and the undesirable phenomena of detonation is minimized and rendered practically negligible.

Obviously as the opening movement of valve 15 is increased the opening movement of needle valve 23 is correspondingly increased with the result that the inflow of the of said rod 18 will cause.

dilutent volume is proportioned in proper relation to the flow of gaseous fuel through the intake manifold.

The adjustability of collar 33 and arm 34 enables the needle valve to be opened at any desired point in the upward or opening movement of throttle valve actuating rod 18.

As the pressure of arm 34 on collar is removed, spring 32 will act to reseat needle valve 23, thereby cutting off the further inflow of the dilutent volume.

It will b understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved internal combustion engine ma} be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, its fuel charge admission duct. the throttle valve therein and the valve operating means, of means associated with said duct and operably associated with said throttle valve operating means, for admitting, during a predetermined portion of the opening movement of said throttle valve actuating means, a dilutent volume to the fuel charge volume passing through said duct, and which dilutent volume admission means includes a Venturi throat arranged in the duct and a perforated dilutent volume admission tube extending diametrically a' ross said Venturi throat.

' 2. Th combination with an internal com-- bustion engine, its fuel charge admission duct, the throttle valve therein and the valve operating means, Ora dilutent volume inlet means connected to said fuel charge admission duct, which dilutent volume inlet means includes a Venturi throat arranged in the inlet duct and a perforated dilutent supply tube extending diametrically across said Venturi throat. a valve for controlling the admission of dilutent through said inlet, means operably associated with the throttle valve actuating means for operating said dilutent volume admission control valve during a predetermined portion of the opening movement of said throttle valve actuating means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EVERETT R. BURTNETT. 

